OVERWHELMING PROOF

2 Corinthians 10:4

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

The things of our physical world are constantly affected by the activities of the spiritual realm. The existence of a Spiritual Being as taught by the Word of God is undeniable and science cannot explain it, but the proof of a Higher Power manifested in people’s changed lives is overwhelming. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12 that, “we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” This is one of the main reasons that Jesus offered to come into your life. When Jesus departed, He gave us the Holy Spirit - the divine power that can clean our lives and protect us from the evil influences of the spiritual realm. Always remember that the Holy Spirit is with you and be careful to listen to and obey His guidance.

A CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Matthew 16:16-17

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.”

Is it possible to learn from God when you can’t physically see Him? The Word of God says in John 4:24, “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” As a Spirit, He cannot be seen and in order to communicate with Him we must obey His command to pray. It’s through prayer that we can converse with God, and it's through His Word that He communicates with us using the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 teaches that, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” Just as was done with Peter in Matthew 16:16-17, God will reveal Himself to us and we will learn things that couldn’t be learn from any human being. Are you ready for His supernatural lessons for you?

THE ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

It’s so easy to violate God’s process for experiencing a blessed life. Many people choose to pursue wealth before committing one's life to God when the proper approach would be to commit one's life to God before pursuing wealth. Matthew 6:33 even pointedly tells us, “And he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Our primary concern should be to love God, and God’s concern is to love us and provide our needs. Don’t even bother trying to change or improve upon the process. Just obey His instructions and you’ll not wander towards a faith that leads to sorrow.

WIN THE ETERNAL PRIZE

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” There are those that will discourage you from trying to successfully convert your dreams to reality, but remember that you’re already a success if you’ve received Jesus as your Savior. The only thing that you have to do thereafter is to discipline yourself to reach the potential that God designed for you. Remember that you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without self-discipline. Self-discipline will help you to achieve excellence in everything. Are you pursuing Christ with discipline and excellence in mind?

A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW

Acts 8:23

For I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin.

A preacher once told a story about an emotionally broken woman who had suffered a great tragedy. She was complaining bitterly about her life, “I wish to God that I had never even been made!” One of her friends very wisely asked, “Why would you wish that? You’re not even made yet, you’re still in the process of being made, but you’re arguing with God during the process.” Bitterness is a prison that holds you captive in the same way as sin. Learn to let go of your bitterness following Paul’s example from 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” There’s just no point in being full of bitterness when you’ve already come to trust God. Are you bitter about anything today? Is there any reason that you can't let go?

RESOUNDING LOUDLY

Proverbs 2:13-15

These people turn from right ways to walk down dark and evil paths. They rejoice in doing wrong, and they enjoy evil as it turns things upside down. What they do is crooked, and their ways are wrong.

When the early American leader Aaron Burr was a student at Princeton, a spiritual revival swept through the college. Burr’s response to the revival was, "I follow only reason." But as the revival continued Burr sought advice from the college president, Dr. John Witherspoon, who would discourage Burr from getting too caught up in the emotion of the revival. Burr went back to his dormitory room, threw open the window, and shouted out across the campus, "Goodbye, God!" Burr had allowed the worldly influence of his school president to win out over the eternal influence of the Word of God. This decision would resound loudly later in Burr's life, even as he rose to the office of Vice President of the United States as he would be best remembered for killing Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel which would effectively end his political career. His life ended in a self-imposed exile. It is truly amazing how bad company can have a lifelong effect. What do you do to make sure that you find yourself in good company?

ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

All of us are called by God to lead in some way, shape or form. Before Dwight D. Eisenhower became an American president, he would demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He’d put it on a table and say, “Pull it and it will follow whatever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It’s the same exact way when it comes to leading people. People need to follow someone that is leading by example.” As leaders we're all accountable to God for our actions. The best way to lead others is to follow Jesus Christ as your own example, so that when people follow you, they’ll actually have been led by Him. Is your personal example to others one that is rooted in the footsteps of Christ?

SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST

Ephesians 3:8

Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

As a younger man, one of the tasks assigned to me was to assist on four different sea explorations in search of the Yamashita Treasure. The faces of the treasure hunters were always filled with excitement, anticipation, and hope; they would willingly pour out their time, resources and lives to find the targeted treasure. There are times that I can plainly remember the feeling of utter danger aboard the search ships. Of course, there's a bigger treasure that will last well beyond our earthly lives: the treasure of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you seek His kingdom first, the Bible teaches us that earthly treasures like the Yamashita Treasure will be added unto you. Get with the program, are you seeking Jesus' kingdom first or not?

NO FAVORITISM

Proverbs 24:23

Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

In the eyes of God, we’re all equal because everyone was created in His image and likeness. Furthermore, we are still unique even among each other. This concept brings to mind a story about a political socialist that once visited the wealthy Andrew Carnegie to rail upon him about the injustice of Carnegie’s excessive wealth. From the socialist’s point of view, wealth was meant to be divided equally among all people. Wisely, Carnegie called his secretary for a quick assessment of everything he owned and divided it by the world’s population. He then ordered his secretary to, “Give this gentleman l6 cents. That's his share of my wealth.” David sang in Psalm 119:57, “You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words.” God doesn’t play favorites among his people and He certainly has enough blessings for all of us. Just be obedient to Him and those blessings are yours. Are you worthy of His blessings today?

DON'T BE DRUNK

Romans 13:14

But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Our evil desires and action are what brings trouble upon our lives. Peter L. Ream of Home Life once wrote that, “If alcoholism is a disease, it is a disease that we approved; a disease that is licensed to propagate; a disease that is sold and promotes crime; it is habit-forming; a disease that is spread by advertising approved by the government; and a disease that is given as a Christmas present.” Paul said in Ephesians 5:18, “Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” The reality is quite stark that the ways of the world can truly ruin you and all the blessings that are meant for you. Trust and obey the Holy Word and let Jesus take control of your life.

THE WORDS THAT YOU USE

James 3:10

And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Before you were a Christian, I’m sure that there were words that would emerge from your mouth without any regard as to whether or not those words were blessings or curses. I recall sharing the Gospel with a salty-tongued boy that received the Lord Jesus as Savior. An adult that knew this boy told me that every sentence this boy spoke contained a curse word. This boy would later grow into a man of encouragement who would carefully use his words only for blessings. Jesus taught us in Matthew 12:34, “You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” If Jesus is in your heart, you’ll find your mouth speaking good things that are a blessing to others. Have you used your mouth to utter blessings or cursing today?

YOU MIGHT BE AN OBSTACLE

1 Corinthians 8:12

And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

There are habits and practices that you had before you became a Christian that need to be unlearned. New believers that are still in early development are watching you and witnessing what you say and do, so you should be careful with your tongue and your actions. You don't want to be someone's stumbling block, or worse yet, the cause of someone backsliding. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” Be ready to unlearn those practices that can cause a weaker brother or sister in Christ to stumble. Besides, it wouldn't kill you to lose a few bad habits. What bad habits do you have that you know could cause someone else to stumble?

THE GOLD STANDARD

Psalm 119:115

Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.

In life, there simply have to be standards that people live by obediently. If we didn't have these standards, there's no telling how a free-flowing world might influence a person. John Wanamaker, the department store mogul once wrote, “I made my biggest purchase when I was eleven years old. In a little mission Sunday school, I bought from my teacher a small, red, leather Bible. The Bible cost me $2.75 – which I paid in installments. That was my greatest purchase, for that Bible made me what I am today.” The New York Herald Tribune captioned its story on Wanamaker’s billion dollar wealth with, “Later deals in millions called small compared with buying Holy Writ at 11.” If you obey God’s commands and make His Word your standard, surely your life will be blessed. What are you using today to set your life's standards?

SETTLE ANY DOUBTS

Ephesians 2:13

But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.

One of the most awesome experiences that I'm looking forward to having involve being in God's presence. I remember having overwhelming feelings of expectation the first time I came face to face to meet a national political figure. While that feeling was great and memorable, I'm positive that it’ll be nothing compared to the moment I come face to face with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Of course, the biggest question surrounding this topic is will you meet Jesus Christ face to face when your time is up? If you don’t know or are unsure of the answer to that question, you need to receive Christ as your personal Savior and settle any and all doubts.

EXCLUSIVE VIP PASS

Job 19:25

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last.

We can very easily see that the human founders of different religions died and never lived again. The Lord Jesus Christ, however, stands unique as a church builder because, “The gates of Hell will not prevail against Him.” He even conquered death when He rose from the dead after 3 days entombed. This is the reason why the road to salvation from hell is an exclusive path attainable only though Jesus. Jesus told us very plainly in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again." Our Savior defeated the grave and just like Him, we shall live everlasting beyond our physical death.

THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN

John 11:25

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.”

In a single week, I attended two funerals. Two mothers had passed away leaving their children as orphans. I was amazed at the two different perspectives that the families received their sad news. One set of children were unsaved and crying at their mother’s death bed without the hope of heaven, feeling that they would never see their mom again. On the other hand were children that were saved by grace who received their mother’s passing with loneliness, but with hope because of the promise of heaven. The second set of kids reminded me of an African Christian tribe that joyfully refers to their dead as having "arrived". Have you made sure that your most precious loved ones are heading to heaven if they should pass? Better yet, have you made sure that you yourself are heading to heaven?

THE LIGHT OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP

1 John 1:6

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.

In the Bible, darkness is typically symbolic of nothingness. Light, however, is usually symbolic of opportunity or a better place. There’s a story I'd heard about a businessman who wanted to determine which of his two sons were the worthier of inheriting his company. He gave a small amount of money to each and said, “With this money you are to buy something that will fill this house.” The elder son bought the cheapest and bulkiest thing he could buy so he bought straw enough to cover the floor. The youngest son, who knew the wisdom of his father, bought candles which he took home and lit one in each room, so that their light would fill the house. The Father said, “To you, I give over my business. You have shown true wisdom.” Stay out of the spiritual darkness and know the true fellowship with God in His light.

MY GOD, MY GOD

Matthew 27:46

At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

You may have asked at some point why Jesus was forsaken by God on the cross. Simply put, the reason Jesus hung upon the cruel cross was because He had to fulfill a purpose that was ordained for Him by God the Father. Paul taught us in Romans 3:25, “For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.” At the very moment of His crucifixion, God the Father who is holy was separated from God the Son who was carrying the burden of the sins of the world. Jesus was forsaken so that each and every single person could be forgiven. Jesus was forsaken for wretches just like us.

HAPPINESS IS A GIFT

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God.

Have you truly considered the reality that Ecclesiastes 5:19 is teaching us? There is nothing in your possession that was actually created by you. Although you may have worked for your home, car, money or possessions, you have these things because you have a God-given life to do so. It’s fair to argue that if you’re benefiting from something without working for that thing, it’s because somebody already did the hard work for you. On the other hand if you don’t believe that God created you, but rather that you have randomly evolved throughout the years, this would be a very difficult concept to understand. King Solomon taught us in Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” The Bible tells us that we were created by God and that He has given you everything to enjoy your life. Believing something else would just be a fool repeating his folly.

IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF

1 Timothy 1:13

Even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down his people, harming them in every way I could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

The New York Times once covered the Humanist Manifesto II signed by one hundred and twenty religious leaders, philosophers, scientists, writers, and social scientists. This document was highly critical of religious dogmatism and stressed that humanity alone must solve the problems that threaten mankind's existence on earth. The Manifesto also went on to say that, “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.” There are many things that we do out of ignorance and unbelief, and we must acknowledge that the Manifesto's position isn’t new. In fact, we can trace ignorance and unbelief back to the very first man, Adam. Be leery to not make the same mistake. Jesus gave us the embodiment of truth in the form of His life, so get your facts straight and read the Word of God to know and understand Jesus.

TALKING ONLY GOES SO FAR

1 Peter 2:15

It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.

Your best arguments in life are going to be things you've achieved and accomplished. Ultimately, the evidence of your walk will always prove more worthy than your talk. Many times I've been asked, “What’s the difference between what you believe and my religion?” My answer has always been that once you're in Christ, you become a new creation - and that is quite an accomplishment. The Polio poster-child, Larry McKenzie, became an inspiration to millions as he shared his Christian testimony during his travels. He said, “I've met many famous people on my tour such as the President of the United States, the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others, but I think often about the time I'll meet the Lord Jesus, and until then I really want to serve Him any way I can.” Larry's physical deeds despite his disability showed evidence of a good walk in Christ. Talking only goes so far, so let your walk be a demonstration of a good life in Christ. Is your walk today one that's obviously in Christ? Is there any outward evidence that you're even a Christian?

THE SIN IN YOUR HEART

Psalm 24:4-5

Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD'S blessing and have right standing with God their savior.

There is a praise and worship song that goes:

A pure heart that’s what I long for
A heart that follows hard after thee
A heart that hides Your Word
So that sin will not come in
A heart that's undivided
But one You rule and reign
A heart that beats compassion,
That pleases You, My Lord
A sweet aroma of worship
That rises to Your throne.

Ironically, Jeremiah 17:9 teaches us that, "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Paul tells us in Romans 3:10 that, "No one is good, not even one. This is the reason why we need to let Jesus come into our hearts in order for our heart to be cleansed.” Don't let deceitful sin reign in your heart. To achieve true praise and worship, God must reign in your life. Is God reigning in your heart today?

NOTHING CAN BE HIDDEN

Psalm 32:5

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

If you try to hide your sins, your sins will eventually come back to haunt you. Hiding sins is exactly what Satan wants because the only way for us to hide our sins is to lie. John 8:44 says liars are Satan’s children, but you can stay out of Satan's family for good by asking Jesus to save your soul. A mentor once told me about a slingshot he had when he was a boy. He was practicing shooting when he accidentally struck and killed a passing duck. The following day he was asked about the missing duck and he lied about what had happened. Later, as he was no longer able to handle the guilt of lying, he told his parents about the accident only to find that his parents had known all along. In fact, his family had already eaten that duck the night of the slingshot incident because his parents had been watching him the whole time. In very much the same way, our all-knowing God always knows the truth and nothing can be hidden from Him. Have you taken the guilt of your lying tongue to the Lord?

YOU CAN'T KNOW IT ALL

1 Corinthians 8:2-3

Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.

If you think you've got all the answers, think again. The truth of the matter is that it's impossible for you to have all the answers because man is plainly limited. Only God is all-knowing and for this reason the Apostle Paul teaches us that, “a person who loves God is the one that God cares for.” It’s rumored that Augustus Caesar once gave a gift so generous that the overwhelmed recipient replied, “This is too great a gift for me to receive.” With a quick reply, Caesar said “But it is not too great a gift for me to give.” Don’t ever be satisfied with what you have and what you can do because God can do even more with you and He can certainly give more blessings to you.

LEARN FROM THE PAST

1 Corinthians 10:11

All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.

In 1 Corinthians 10:11, Paul reminds us about the mistakes people have made in the past and the purpose of those mistakes. I recently read about a famed criminal lawyer and self-proclaimed atheist dying upon his deathbed who called for clergymen from three different types religious institutions. He said to them, “Gentlemen, I have written and spoken many things against God and churches during my lifetime. Now, I wished that I hadn’t! Now I realize it is entirely possible that I may have been wrong. So I should like to ask a final favor that each one of you intercede for me with the Almighty.” This was his final appeal and a last ditch effort to learn from his past. Everyone needs to learn from the past before it’s too late. Have you learned anything from the mistakes of your past?

A GOD OF BEAUTY

Hebrews 11:16

But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

What kind of place is Heaven? Dr. Billy Graham once wrote that, “Heaven is a home which is beautiful beyond every imagination. Heaven could not help but be so, because God is a God of beauty. It is a place of happiness because there will be nothing to make it sad. In Heaven families and friends will be reunited. God’s house will be a happy home because Christ will be there. He will be the center of Heaven. To Him all hearts will turn, and upon Him all eyes will rest.” Make God your God because He prepared a place in heaven for you, and heaven is your true home.

OPEN THE BOOK

1 Corinthians 2:9

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

I heard a story about an elderly man who many years earlier was the recipient of his aunt’s will which read, “To my beloved Steven Marsh, I bequeath my family Bible and all it contains, along with the residue of my estate after my funeral expenses and just and lawful debts are paid.” Once all the funeral expenses had been settled, Marsh was only left with his aunt’s meager pension and Bible. 30 years later, he was preparing to live out his years living with his son so he began cleaning out his attic. He found the Bible inherited from his aunt and as he opened it, he was amazed to find hundreds of bills of cash scattered throughout the pages worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. Ironically, had he bothered to even opened the book just to peruse it's pages, he would have realized the monetary blessings 30 years earlier. In Marsh's case, the blessings were truly meant only for someone who would bother to get to know God.

GONE IN A SPLIT SECOND

Philippians 3:8-10

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death.

I’ve wondered to myself about the world's wealthiest people and what they may have had to give up to amass such enormous wealth. Is it really a gain having such large sums of money when all would be lost in a quick moment upon losing your life? The Word of God teaches us about the priceless gain beyond money that believers can obtain by knowing Jesus as Lord. If you know Jesus as your Savior, when your physical life comes to an end you don’t lose your treasures – you actually obtain your treasures fully and completely. Are you fully realizing your treasures today?

LET OUR TESTIMONIES SHINE

Philippians 2:15

So that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

Robert Ingersoll was an agnostic that lectured against God and the Bible. Ingersoll had an old friend from a broken family who struggled with alcoholism. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, his old friend’s life was changed and he was even reunited with his family. This friend wrote to Ingersoll saying, “Old friend, would you speak against the Savior who stooped and lifted me, rebuilt my home and brought joy to my wife and children?” Mr. Ingersoll read the letter that night before a large audience and then said, “I have nothing to say against a religion that will do this for a man. I am here to talk about a religion that is being preached, but not practiced by so many. You can find fault with the church, but there stands One supreme! No man can point his finger at Christ and find any fault with Him!” When we let our testimonies shine, even the staunchest of critics will bend their knee and see the truth. Is your testimony shining through to nonbelievers today?

NO TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

2 Corinthians 5:18

All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

The Church of the Penitents in Bogota, Columbia, was built over 300 years ago. The edifice was built by penitents that carried up two bricks for every sin they committed. Sadly, penitent behavior does not reduce or remove your sins. In fact, the only way to experience eternal life is to allow Christ Jesus to cover your disobedient sins against God. Under no circumstance can we even take credit for our being cleansed, which is why personal penitence is meaningless. Ephesians 2:8 teaches us, “God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” For one to have a new life in God, a person must understand that there aren’t enough works for us to do that would be worthy to cover our sinful nature. Only God is powerful enough to reach down and reconcile man to Himself.